Latest Articles

Beltway paper runs two of the dumbest stories of the decade on climate science

See David Roberts’s follow-up post on this topic. — Today brings two of the most jaw-droppingly moronic stories I’ve ever seen, both in Politico, both written by Erika Lovley, who one can only assume is either the most dimwitted, gullible reporter in D.C. or … um, I can’t think of another explanation. Remember those articles […]

‘Second generation’ or not, biofuels contribute to Peak Soil

The Seattle Times has another story peddling the fantasy that there are "second generation biofuels" that magically appear without use of energy, land, or water (not to mention subsidies). The most revealing comment in the piece pushes that idea that biologic systems generate "waste," and that "waste" is a huge resource that’s going unused. Apparently […]

New annual quota for bluefin tuna does the fish no favors, say greens

A new legal quota set Monday for Atlantic bluefin tuna is a “mockery of science” and may cause the tuna population to collapse, green group WWF warned. The 46 member nations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas set the annual quota at some 24,000 tons, defying scientists’ recommendations that it be […]

Do we ‘have to’ keep using coal?

This AFP analysis distills crusty conventional wisdom: "coal-fired power plants, which generate about half of US electricity and 40 percent of US greenhouse gas output, will have to be the backbone of America’s power grid for decades because US coal is plentiful and relatively cheap." This is wrong on so many levels that its levels […]

Sentence of the day

“The students say they initially planned to hang bed sheets, but had trouble collecting 350 sheets, so they moved to undergarments.” — “Coeds Take Off Underwear to Be ‘Green’,” AP

How my intern stood up to Big Auto

Even as it begs for a big taxpayer bailout, GM is still spending billions on marketing, peddling its giant gas-guzzlers to Americans who want them less and less. It has even got the cash to try and enlist college students in its efforts to greenwash. My intern, Meg Imholt, is also the president of EcoSense, […]

Northwest bookstore goes solar, gets compared to candy

Photo: Thomas Hawk Hearing the news that Oregon darling Powell’s Books is getting a crapload of solar panels is akin to learning that Santa recycles or Mother Teresa loved to compost. Yep, Powell’s — especially the block-long location in downtown Portland with color-coded rooms — is that beloved. Construction has already started on a 100-kilowatt […]

Oceans acidifying much faster than thought, study says

An eight-year study of ocean pH levels off the Northwest coast of the United States found that pollution is increasing the ocean’s acidity about 10 or 20 times faster than previously thought and that the process is already significantly disrupting ocean ecology.

Powell’s Books goes partly solar

Independent bookseller Powell’s Books, based in Portland, Ore., will go partly solar next month with a 100-kilowatt solar system affixed to its warehouse that will provide enough juice to power about one-quarter of its online bookstore, Powells.com, that’s housed inside.

Humane Society sues fur designers and purveyors

The Humane Society of the United States has sued a handful of fur retailers and designers for allegedly misrepresenting some real fur products as fake fur and for improperly labeling other fur products as coming from foxes, rabbits, or raccoons when they’re really made from a species of dog in Asia, according to the suit.